Who do you trust these days?
If you’re like most Americans, not too many people are on your trust list. Check this out:
I am a Baby Boomer, and my generation is not very trusting (only 40 percent of us trust others)—but look how it drops significantly with the younger generations!
Our lack of trust is very evident these days. After all, we’re in the thick of a presidential election full of distrust.
David Brooks wrote an insightful article for the New York Times called The Avalanche of Distrust. He said, “… these nominees didn’t emerge in a vacuum. Distrustful politicians were nominated by an increasingly distrustful nation. “
What has made us such a distrustful nation? Sure, we can point to our past experiences with politicians and what we perceive as deceitful promises and actions, but I’m not just talking about political distrust.
Look at that chart again. We think most people—not just politicans—can’t be trusted. So what has made us cynical about others?
- We’ve been burnt by someone who didn’t follow through with a promise.
- We’ve been out-and-out lied to.
- We’ve had a parent or spouse pledge their undying love, but then they moved out and found another family.
- We’ve had friends committed to us as long as it benefitted them.
- We’ve overdosed on commercials that are more hype than reality.
Into this culture of distrust steps the church—and we’re telling people, TRUST JESUS.”
To a society of people—especially millennials—with trust issues, the invitation to trust Jesus can be difficult. I don’t trust those around me, so why should I trust Someone I can’t see?
Christians know Jesus can be trusted, but how do we convey that to others?
1. We can point to the faithfulness of God in creation.
“Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures” (Ps. 119:90-91).
2. We can point to God’s trustworthiness in our own lives.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23).
“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread” (Ps. 37:25).
3. We can display trust in Christ in our day-to-day decisions and actions.
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Ps. 56:3).
4. We can follow the example of Christ and be trustworthy ourselves.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:9-10).
Want to see someone trust Christ? Issue the invitation, and let them see your own trust in Him. Politics, the media, and even friends may have given them reasons to distrust, but let’s give them a reason to make the biggest step of trust they’ll ever make.
Trust Jesus.
This 
post is based on the study “One Great Commitment” in Bible Studies for Life.
A printable version is available to share with others: Who Do You Trust These Days?
Lynn Pryor 